Meeting to examine benefits from Tasman cycle trail

June 8th, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

A meeting will be held next week which organisers hope will provide a springboard for ideas on how innovative Motueka businesses and organisations could benefit from the Nelson Tasman cycle trail soon to be built through town.

The meeting at Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park, one of eight around the Tasman region, are being hosted by the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust and the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce as part of community consultations aimed at both commercial and community leaders. It will be held next Tuesday, June 14th, starting at 6pm.

When completed, the so-called Tasman Loop cycle trail will run in a triangle between Nelson, Tapawera and Riwaka. The scenic beauty of the area covered is expected over time to attract large numbers of cycling tourists, much as the Otago Rail Trail has provided a commercial and community boom for Central Otago.

The trail, which has already begun in Richmond, will be built over 2011 - 2016 with government funding assistance. Sections will completed earlier than scheduled if local communities help with the establishment work. As sections are completed they will be able to be used before the whole loop is finished.

In charge of developing the activities around the trail, the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust has already identified commercial and community opportunities and is looking for more ideas to develop "trail 'local ownership', micro economic development, business planning tools, funding, marketing and promotion opportunities", says Trust executive director Fiona Newey.

Fiona told Motueka Online that, given what has been seen in Central Otago and that Motueka has a good record of community involvement and fundraising in large projects, new ideas would be welcomed.

"Of course, the accommodation providers in the area would want to be involved. Plus the whole food and beverages side of things," she said.

"Philanthropic groups may want to raise funds and adopt a part of the trail, or perhaps plant an edible garden or build a shelter with a toilet, rubbish bin and information board, with a story about the history of the immediate area, or something like that.

"Marketing and Promotions people will want to get behind the whole project and help market the area and the trail more to the world using social media like Facebook and Twitter.

"Then you could think about the transport and cycle support people. If you have a bike shop or bike hire place, or a cycle clothing shop or sports shop for people who brought the wrong gear with them. Also people who will pick up luggage - or people - from one spot and take it to the next.

"And we would need packages or guides for things for the trail cyclists to do and see along the way and when they stay in Motueka, such as wine tours or art and craft tours, history or geology tours, environmental experiences such as bird watching."

The Tasman Loop trail when completed will offer 170kms of stunning scenery, year round accessibility, historic railways, artisan rural communities, tobacco and hops, boutique breweries, artist colonies, vineyards, olive groves, festivals and port settlements. All of the trail will be 'off road' so that there will be no competition with cars.

Trail highlights will consist of a Rabbit Island – Mapua ferry link (due to be completed in 12 months, though earlier of more local funds can be raised) and the 1352m-long Spooner rail tunnel near Kohatu.

Here is a map of the proposed route of the trail, which is shown in dashed lines or three colours (red, blue and yellow) for the three sections. The section through Motueka in in yellow.

Comment by Beth Bryant:
[Posted 18 June 2011]

Both the environment and health of the population benefit from biking. It is good that people are getting on their bikes - and here in Motueka we have many more people using bikes than say in Richmond - well done!

The upkeep on the cycle trail is to be $200,000 annually. The trail is to be handed over to TDC as it is completed. The Cycle Trail Trust has enough money to finish the trail to Mapua, and to Wakefield (money from government ie. "National Cycle trails" - plus money from TDC). In order to get to Motueka the Trust needs every person to donate $40 and as well useful input from locals.

Practically we do need to be careful just where and how the trail will go in order to recognize sensitive areas, such as estuary/river edges, birds, native plants, bush and forest. These all need to be honoured both for our environment and in addition to preserve local clean-green tourist business. Our local environment is a mark of distinction for which we are recognised and responsible.

Comment by William Cleaver:
[Posted 25 June 2011]

I attended the meeting with about 30 other interested parties for the cycle trail. We were greeted by a well presented video on the benifits for the community and greater tourism for the district. Figures were given on costs and rewards and what this attraction can offer.

With dwindling international tourist numbers, the cycle trail offers another string to our bow to get tourists to Nelson Bays. Also the trail is an all-year attraction, thus providing a more secure future for all of us in the district. The sooner the trail gets out to Motueka and beyond the better.

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